Will it be Obama and history?
E. Ablorh-Odjidja, Ghanadot
Today, November 4, 2008, will add to the days that matter
most in American racial history; whether Obama is elected as
president of the United States on not.
Decision 2008 will be one act, along with many in history
that mark the true progress of racial bias in America,
starting with Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of
1863.
In 1863, Lincoln, the 16th president of the
United States, had premonition about the impact of his
Emancipation Proclamation. In that statement, he observed
that the Proclamation would be “an
act of justice, warranted by the
Constitution . ..” And
went on to “invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and
the gracious favor of Almighty God” for his proclamation.
Decision 2008 will be either a proclamation and affirmation
or denial of America’s own racial progress.
Today, in majority of places in Africa, people are invoking
the same wishes as expressed by Lincoln in his
proclamation. They are excited about the possibility of an
African-American becoming an American president for the
first time in history.
Much of the world is also excited. In Europe, many feel
“virtuous by supporting Barack Obama, convinced that this
demonstrated how they are equally liberal on racial issues,”
says Andrew Nagorski in his article “Projections of American
Power.”
Trust the Europeans to hide their own feelings about race as
they trumpet those of America. As Obama advances in the
polls in America today, there is no likelihood in Europe
that a Black in France or Germany or Britain, with the
political stature of Obama, can rise to the top as head of
government in these states.
Obama is likely to become the next president of the United
States. He has, with his campaign alone, demonstrated his
capabilities as a leader. The timing is also in his favor,
with the economy going against the Bush administration. He
has more chance than any Black in history to capture the
White House.
But will his failure to do
so be caused by a leftover of some deep seated racial animus
dating back to the time of Emancipation?
In 1893, Abraham Lincoln had fought for Emancipation with
the support of the Republican Party. Today, it is the
Democrat Party that is the party for Blacks.
Democrats also outnumber the Republican Party in membership
strength. A straight line party vote by Democrats for Obama
will definitely assure his victory. If Obama were White,
like a Bill Clinton, a landslide victory can be assured for
Democrats.
Obama’s victory will be momentous not only for historical
reasons, but for the awesome psychological effect it will
unleash. There would be a complete paradigm shift for
Blacks worldwide – about themselves and the world.
In Ghana, for instance, Mr. Barack Ofori, a businessman and
an ardent supporter of Obama has already felt the shift. He
has taken a quarter page advert in the nation’s most read
newspaper, The Daily Graphic. For one week running, he has
requested prayers for Obama at his own expense.
Mr. Ofori is the owner of Reader’s Printing Press and the
proprietor of a private educational institution for middle
schoolers, called The Englebert School. This middle school
is situated at the Airport residential area of Accra. He is
also planning for a victory celebration at the school for
students and Obama supporters.
For Mr. Ofori, the consequence of Obama’s victory is clear.
It will be good for the kids growing up in his school and it
will be a dream come true for Blacks worldwide.
As much as Obama’s victory is necessary for Blacks and even
Whites, there is still the consideration that he may not
win. And should he not, despite the acutely favorable
political environment, who then should be blamed?
For once, the Democrat will not be able to blame Republicans
for racial animus. The Republican may be racist, but he
would have an excuse, a perfect one since he disagreed with
Obama on principle.
There would be no such excuse for the White liberal
Democrat. In principle, he is on the same page with Obama.
They are both liberal. The only excuse for his
recalcitrance will be because of race. The last time I
checked Obama is Black according to racial definition in
America.
E. Ablorh-Odjidja,Publsiher
www.ghanadot.com,
Washington, DC, November 4, 2008
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